The Department of State Services (DSS) has reportedly invited Senator Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, former vice-presidential candidate alongside Peter Obi in the 2023 elections, for questioning over comments security operatives believe could inflame tensions in the country.
Multiple security sources told analyst Zagazola Makama that intelligence agencies have become increasingly uneasy about the Baze University founder’s recent media appearances, particularly his repeated warnings of what he describes as a looming “constitutional crisis.”
According to one senior source, Baba-Ahmed’s latest television interview raised fresh alarm after he accused the judiciary and the military of failing to prevent the inauguration of President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima. The source claimed the senator went as far as suggesting that actions taken during the May 2023 swearing-in had emboldened some officers to “look you in the face and call you bloody fools.”
Officials say such remarks carry “dangerous undertones” at a time when the nation is navigating a fragile political atmosphere. They also drew parallels with narratives that stoked unrest in countries such as Guinea-Bissau, warning that similar patterns must not be allowed to take root in Nigeria.
“This invitation is not political,” one operative insisted. “It is a precautionary step. Comments that appear to belittle the judiciary, undermine the military, or dismiss national security efforts as a ‘joke’ can shake public confidence in key institutions.”
The source added that interactions of this nature are routine and aimed at averting avoidable crises. “These engagements are preventive, not punitive. The goal is to understand the intent behind the statements, provide context, and curb narratives that could unintentionally provoke instability,” the official explained.
The DSS has yet to issue a formal statement on the reported invitation.